Illinois Rose sets a series of stunning fuchsia flowers throughout June and July. The bubblegum-colored petals frame a riot of sunny yellow stamens. These vibrant blooms fade to nearly white as each blossom matures, creating a lovely pink-spectrum palette across a single plant. This native Rose is rather singular in its ability to grow as vines. If situated near a support – such as a trellis, fence, or tree - Illinois Rose will tenaciously climb and cling by its prickles to twine throughout that structure. If planted in the open, the thorny stems will cascade, taking root where the tips touch the ground, to create a bushy bower. Once fertilized, female flowers will give way in late summer to reveal vibrant red rosehips. The foliage turns bronze, burgundy, or sometimes dark purple in the fall.

Rosa setigera prefers medium to medium-dry soils and will tolerate consistently moist turf better than hot, dry conditions. This plant performs best in full sun but acclimates to partial shade; it will produce comparatively subdued flower hues and fewer blossoms, in general, when located in shaded sites. Illinois Rose is a vigorous species that benefits from hard pruning every few years. Don’t worry about a lack of flowers in the following season – Rosa setigera will produce blooms on new, fresh growth as readily as it blossoms on mature stems.

Some sources state that this species is dioecious, growing as entirely separate male and female plants; other sites make no note of this distinction at all. There are references that list Rosa setigera as being potentially both: some plants grow with functioning male AND female flowers on a single plant while other plants will produce strictly male OR female flowers on a single plant. Illinois Rose is the only native rose to show these potentially dioecious tendencies. Rosehips are created from fertiziled female flowers, so if that is the goal in selecting this species, plant several specimens to ensure good pollination.

Also commonly known as Climbing Wild Rose, Climbing Prairie Rose, and Prairie Rose.

This species (in seed) may be difficult and/or slow to germinate and grow to maturity. Please note the .